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NEA Trojan Horse in American Education – Review & Giveaway!

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I was sent a copy of NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education in exchange for a review. No promise was made for a positive review, and there was no expectation of one. Like I’ve said before, I’m not going to insult you by lying and I’m not going to ruin your trust by doing so either.

Today’s review may be a little controversial. Well, the subject is controversial for sure. I’m not one to shy away from controversy, so let’s get to the nitty-gritty!

NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education is written by Sam Blumenfeld. He originally published it in 1984, once he found someone that would actually publish it! The publishing houses, even then, were all too afraid of the NEA (National Education Association) to put their name on the book. That should give you a little insight into the power of this group. I guess this is as good a time as any to let you know that I have zero respect for this group. It stems from way before I ever read this book. That’s why I was more than a little excited to read it! I promise to not let this review turn into a rant on my part.

This updated version of NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education comes to you either on disk ($17.95), as a pdf download ($12.95) or in a Kindle version ($9.99). Mine was on disk. I have to admit, I really like the delivery method! Yes, I like to snuggle up with a book in bed, but having it electronically is just so much easier to multitask. I saved the book as a pdf from the disk and uploaded it to our home server. Then I could open this on my laptop or whatever computer I near and was able to read while working with the boys or working on my sites. When there were bits that I wanted to remember: highlight, “take a photo” and paste into an Open Office Writer document! I definitely do no mind that it is not a physical book. If you really need that hardcopy, you could print it out. Just use that toner saver mode!

Here is Sam Blumenfeld’s description of the book. It’s a quick little video.:

I knew we would homeschool our kids before they were born. My husband needed just a little convincing. I know how the public school system let me down. I was an advanced student, bored out of my mind in public school. But, putting everyone on an equal footing is what the public system is all about! They were trying to “dumb me down”. I didn’t want that for our babies. I wanted them to be able to flourish! To love learning. Mr. Blumenfeld is a huge homeschool advocate. I actually have some of his books that I will be reviewing. Anyway! Back to NEA.

NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education gave me the history behind the research I had already done on my own into the teacher’s unions and why America’s public education system was so broken. Let me warn you that this is not a quick read. You are going to need to take your time with this book! There is a LOT of information to digest. You can’t just breeze through it. I encourage you to take breaks while reading to research the information you were given. You will quickly see that Mr. Blumenfeld is right on the money! You’re also going to find out that it’s only going to get worse.

I want to share a few quotes with you.

“[Why is the NEA effective?] It is not because of creative ideas, it is not because of the merit of our position, it is not because we care about children, it is not because we have a vision of great public schools for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power and we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people [members] who are willing to pay us millions of dollars in dues each year because they believe we are the union that can most effectively represent them, the unions that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees.”

- daytonos.com May 11, 2011

I’m a teacher and I read this book years ago, shortly after it first came out. At that time I was working in a school system that required either joining the NEA or paying almost the exact same amount of money to it and not having a say in it. For two years, I mindlessly paid my dues and was a member. Then, I decided to read the material I had been given by the NEA. It was a 75-page, very fine print 8 1/2 x 11″ book(let). I read every word of it and was amazed at some of the thing the NEA was supporting. Then I heard about this book on a radio program and when I read it, I saw that this man was pointing out the very things I had already seen.

The NEA is not a harmless group that merely wants the best for the education of our children. The changes that are happening in education are part of an overall agenda and that agenda is NOT to produce the most intelligent and well-educated children we can.

If you are an educator today, please read this book! Don’t give your money mindlessly to this organization. You expect your students to research their facts and you need to do the same yourself. You owe it to yourself and the children you teach. Joining the NEA is NOT the best way to educate our youth!

This author has excellent documentation for what he says. It is well worth your time to read. Even though it was originally published in the 80’s, the NEA has only gotten worse. (Did you know the NEA was sued a couple of years ago for misappropriation of funds?)

Once you read this, you’ll wonder how intelligent people like teachers have been duped into thinking this is only a pro-education group. (Did you know teachers are now referred to as “agents of change”? After reading this book, you’ll know why.)

If you are not infuriated by the first quote, maybe you didn’t understand it. It’s saying that they are all about the power they have! The power to achieve whatever they deem to be in their best interest. Not the best interest of the kids, their best interest. That is NOT what our country needs from its teachers. That’s not what the kids in public school need. There’s a documentary you may find interesting called The Cartel. It’s a “watch it now” on Netflix. It’s about the NJ teacher’s union. It’s extremely eye-opening. I think Mr. Blumenfeld would approve.

When reading this book, you are going to come across a lot of talk of socialism and the leftist agenda. Don’t blow it off. I have really done a 180 when it comes to socialism. It sounds so nice as a teenager! I can only thank God that I grew up and realized what it really was. Mr. Blumenfeld is passionate about his beliefs, and it’s evident in this book. Don’t be offended by it, just read it with an open mind. Do your own research! Educate yourself and learn how to better educate your children. I think that’s what he’s really after here.

I already knew the public school system was broken, but this book really told me why. I already knew that phonics was the absolute best way to teach kids to read and that dyslexia numbers were huge in the US but, once again, this book told me why. As homeschoolers, we know that we are on the front lines of the battle for a good education for our kids. We have to fight the State. We have to fight the Federal government. We have to fight the local school board. Well, I now know where the real power is. And I thank Sam Blumenfeld from the bottom of my heart for the countless YEARS of research he did to bring me these answers.

And now, the giveaway!!! (The winner of the giveaway was Entry #5 April W.!!!!)

4 Comments

I know the school system failed me too. I was in the accelerated classes for math and science but I struggled with English and reading. I graduated with honors and I could only read enough to find the answers but not enough to be proficient. I knew the chances my kids would struggle with reading were good so I opted to homeschool. I never read this book but it looks like a good read. Thanks for the giveaway.

Great resource for ANY diet (Vegan, Veg, GF, etc)

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